Botox for migraines

[MiaSparrow]

Anyone had any experience of this? I have a review coming up - currently on triptans - but injections have been mentioned if no progress. TIA.

Duh! Sorry - just read up. It's not Botox (not quite chronic, thank god), but sumatriptan injections the doc must have been referring to. I can't help but think this might be a bit hazardous seeing as I typically lose 40% of my vision in an attack.

I know someone who uses this, they give you a pen rather than a syringe. It's pretty straightforward to use!

I've had 4 lots of Botox for migraines. It reduces the number of attacks and the severity of them. They postponed my last lot so I'm 2 months over due and I'm really feeling it.

Thanks both. Oh that's good to know about the pen. Might be a bit dangerous otherwise! Fairy - can I ask where they do it? Is it forehead? And I'm guessing yours must be pretty chronic? (You poor thing.) What was the criteria? I get about two or three a month, but with pain lasting two or three days afterwards for each episode, so even at this level it's pretty disrupting.

I'm keen to hear experiences of treatment - I currently get 4-8 every month and take triptan wafer and propranolol to (allegedly) prevent them. I'm getting desperate for something better.

My DP has had Botox for migraines every three months for about a year. At first, it seemed like a wonder treatment and lasted for roughly two and as half months, though it was definitely noticeable when wearing off. The more treatments he had, the shorter it took for it to wear off until he ended up having just a couple of pain free days. He won't be having any more Botox as it's not worth the £500 a pop.

They're truly awful aren't they? Mine aren't quite as bad as when I was a kid (aura, cyclical vomiting, the lot), but I'm struggling with the fact that I get no warning these days and it's my sight that always goes first. I feel like I'm going to get hit by a car or something. And I certainly shouldn't be in charge of a little one when out and about with only 60% vision. Will tell doc all of this, of course...

Presumably that wasn't on the NHS then Filly? Or do you mean not worth the £500 for them?

I take amitryptaline for prevention of migraines and it has been life changing for me - been on it for nearly 2 years and my migraines (aura, vomiting etc) , have reduced from 3-4 a month to 3-4 a year. It's not the first line of preventative treatment, I had to suggest it to GP. It's a very old antidepressant, although the dose is tiny compared to what it would be for depression (10mg vs 150mg). Would heartily recommend

No, Mia he went private.

My ds gets terrible migraines, but can't take any of the normal medications because of his mitochondrial disease. His neurologist recently tried a new procedure on him which worked immediately and completely without any side effect. It involves delivering a spray of lidocaine inside the nasal cavity to the sphenopalatineganglion at the back of the nasal cavity. It numbs everything and then 30 min later the migraine is gone and no side effects. This is the device. We're in the USA, so not sure of the availability in the UK, but I would certainly recommend looking into it as it's also a cheap solution, so should appeal to the NHS.

Mia there's 31 injections for the botox. If you look at this [[http://www.botoxchronicmigraine.com/chronic-migraine-treatment/ link] it'll show you that they go into the forehead, side and back of the head, down the back of the neck and shoulders. They don't hurt at all.

The critteria is you have to have at least 15 migraines or headache days in a month. I had tried beta blockers and a combination of other preventative drugs for about 18 months before I was referred. I had to keep a headache diary for 3 months after my first appointment with my headache specialist.

When you've had the first treatment they want you to keep a diary, but you need to have a reduction of the days of headaches/migraines but still more than 15 per month.

I have mine on the NHS.